Lexington/Winchester after school care? (apartments, work, housing)

[Spyponder]

We are considering moving to Winchester or Lexington, and one big consideration is the availability and quality of after school programs - our little one will be entering kindergarten the year after next, and both my spouse and I work FT, so after care is a big concern.

Any insight into what working parents are doing for after school care in these towns? It looks like the towns offer some sort of after school programs, but what is the qualitylike, and are there good private options? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[FellsMom]

Originally Posted by Spyponder

We are considering moving to Winchester or Lexington, and one big consideration is the availability and quality of after school programs - our little one will be entering kindergarten the year after next, and both my spouse and I work FT, so after care is a big concern.

Any insight into what working parents are doing for after school care in these towns? It looks like the towns offer some sort of after school programs, but what is the qualitylike, and are there good private options? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks!

There are a couple of after school programs in Winchester. One is Kids Corner, an excellent program serving kids K-6, and the other is run by town recreation department. There is always a wait list to get into Kids Corner, but if you sign up when your kids are in Kindergarten, they should be all set.

I don't know details about Lexington, but I have heard that their rec dept has many options for after school care.

Good luck!

[cocoaday]

I live in Lexington, the extended day programs are excellent.

[Skwidy]

Also, new this fall, Kindergarten in Lexington is being offered on a full-time basis. This means until 3:15 pm (except Thursdays, which are half days for all grades). There is still a half day option, but there was little demand for it, so the only half day class is happening at the Bowman school. Also, I should mention that full-time classes cost $1,025/year/student (but also that kindergarten isn't required by law in MA? I just found that out since our 5-yr is starting this fall...who knew?!...I digress). My wife works at home, so we're covered for after school, but I'd recommend checking out the following site:
Schools
Good luck in your choice!

[Spyponder]

Thanks all for the info. I have a follow-up question, I guess for cocoaday and Skwidy, regarding the elementary schools in Lexington. When you look at test scores for the elementary schools, some of the elementary schools like Bowman and Harrington don't seem to be performing as well as the others. I just wanted to get your opinion as to why this might be?

[Skwidy]

I don't have direct knowledge of this, but I was told by one of the RE agents in town that Bowman had lower test scores because there was more temporary housing in that district, i.e. apartments, and that regardless of where you went to school before that day, if you're there on the test day, your test counts towards that school. Same agent said Harrington was due to its newness. I don't know if I fully believe those answers, but there is some logic to it.

In general, though, the LPS system is pretty good, and regardless of where the kids go to elementary, they all go through LHS.

I've heard terrific things about Winchester too. While everyone might be clamoring to get into the Muraco system because of the test scores, all the schools are good, and all the kids will go through WHS.

I think the differences between the two school systems are negligible, and that you really can't go wrong with either.

[Skwidy]

Spyponder, I just saw this on another website:
After-school programs awarded contract - Lexington, MA - Lexington Minuteman

[Spyponder]

Thanks for the info!

[zhang_jennifer]

There is another new multi-culture afterschool program in Winchester run by the the Winchester school of Chinese Culture

Winchester School of Chinese Culture: Home Page